Clean your countertops when you occupy your condo suite. With suite upgrades geared at turning your condo into your luxurious castle, home owners are faced with the question: "how do I keep these different surfaces clean?" Countertops are the most used surface in your kitchen and bathroom. So, keeping them sanitized is important to your health and that of your loved ones. But remember, different materials need different cleaning. Below are some popular condo upgrade materials that, with proper care and maintenance, will last you a lifetime. Granite A very hard stone, granite is difficult to chip or scratch. It is resistant to most chemicals and heat, but beware oils that seep into the stone.
Seal granite tops every five to six years with oil-repellent penetrating sealers to prevent staining and maintain colour over time. Frank Gagro, of Dyna Manufacturing, recommends Super-Impregnator 4210 sealant, to coat the pores while allowing the stone to breathe. Do it yourself, Gagro says. "Pour the product on, let it absorb, and buff off the excess. Just be sure to ventilate the area."
"To clean, all you need is hot water and mild soap, rather than a cleaning detergent," says Paul Soares, co-owner of Classic Building Services.
Marble
Popular for its range of colours, marble is softer and more delicate to wear. "The lustre of marble tops can be restored with polishing, but any repairs have to be done by a professional stone restorer, and professional tools," Soares says. Marble is very porous. It is damaged by most chemicals and stained by absorbed oils and other liquids. To prevent staining, use a penetrating sealer. Gagro suggests sealing porous marble more frequently, every two to three years depending on use of the countertop. Clean marble with neutral pH detergents such as Dyna's spray-and-wipe cleaner or Zep Commercial Granite from Home Depot. To reduce staining, immediately wipe up spills, especially acidic liquids like citrus juice, alcohol and soft drinks. These tips hold true for natural stone flooring as well.
Clean granite and marble floors with hot water and a soft mop. Mop dry excess water to prevent water spots. Hardwood floors should be treated with the same care when cleaning.
Mop with hot water and avoid soaps, as they as they can ruin the floor's sealant. For a deeper but gentle clean, Carol Lisk, owner of Happy Homes Housecleaning Services, suggests adding Murphy's Oil wood cleaner to hot water. Dry excess water from floors to prevent water stains and warping.
Visit www.dyna.ca for granite and marble cleaners. condo cleaning dos and don'ts
To keep grout clean, apply a five-year grout sealer to keep water out. Try Tile Lab's & Grout Sealer available at Home Depot. Use cotton dust mops to dust hardwood or laminated floors — the long strings prevent grit from scratching surfaces. "Mix two parts hot water with one part white vinegar for a cheap alternative to Windex," suggests Carol Lisk, owner of Happy Homes Housecleaning Services. Never use abrasive cleaning pads on flat-surface stoves, as they scratch and damage the burners. Do not use paper towels to dust surfaces; the lint they leave behind simply adds more dirt.
|
Source: jessica di leo/for metro toronto news Published November 24, 2005
This website provides Relocation information to Toronto, Real Estate listings in and around the Bay, Yorkville, Yorkville Toronto, Etobicoke, Toronto areas of Canada, tips for business professionals visiting, temporarily or permanently relocating to Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga Ontario. Information and links to Professionals whom Maria Miller (Maria Subjak-Miller) works with and whose services she highly recommends. Maria Miller (Maria-Subjak Miller) is a successful and award winning RealEstate Professional with a proven track record. You will also find testimonials from her clients, articles on what to do in and around Toronto Canada, maps of Toronto, TTC and surrounding areas including the Toronto Islands, currency converters and other information. |
